Inside a Fishing Village Reclaimed by Nature

Houses are covered with vines at a deserted village on Shengshan Island. (VCG via Getty Images)

Among a 400-island archipelago off the coast of Shanghai, lies an abandoned island slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature. Shengshan Island was once home to more than 2,000 fishermen, but its inhabitants began leaving in the early 1990s. First, the wealthy elite left in search of better education and reliable food delivery. Ultimately, the fishermen deserted Shengshan, looking for better harbors. Today, only a few residents remain. The island has mostly become a tourist attraction—the same fate for many other forsaken places. Houtouwan, a remote village, is a popular site because of its extreme overgrowth. Take a visual tour of Houtouwan below, along with a short video at the bottom.